March 26, 2006

[]< ET NEWS
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NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING TEAM
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Issue No. 248 ISSN 1554-074X http://www.etnews.org 3-26-2006
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Contents
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- News
- ET News Journal
- Job Opportunities
- Fire Alarm Class Schedule
- Comments & Acknowledgements
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NEWS
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Carbon monoxide detector installation deadline March 31
Cambridge Chronicle - Somerville,MA,USA
State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Cambridge Fire Chief Gerald
Reardon wish to inform homeowners that as of March 31, carbon monoxide
alarms will be ...
http://www2.townonline.com/cambridge/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=4
55720
...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)
RI Clubs Meeting New Fire Codes
Hartford Courant - United States
... Several clubs have missed deadlines for installing sprinkler
systems or fire alarm systems that are connected to the local fire
department. ...
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctfiresafety0321.artmar21,0,71241
42.story?coll=hc-headlines-local
...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)...(}{)
I'll see you in Happyrock this week.
Have fun!
Mike
mailto:mike@etnews.org
"I'd rather be lucky than good." - Lefty Gomez, pitcher
1075
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ET NEWS JOURNAL
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WIRING METHODS AND MATERIALS
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When installing a fire alarm system, a technician may think that they
have but one wiring method available, when in fact they have 3 to
choose from.
NFPA 70-2005 760.52 Wiring Methods and Materials on Load Side of the
PLFA Power Source. Fire alarm circuits on the load side of the power
source shall be permitted to be installed using wiring methods and
materials in accordance with either 760.52(A), 760.52(B), or a
combination of (A) and (B).
(A) NPLFA Wiring Methods and Materials. Installation shall be in
accordance with 760.25, and conductors shall be solid or stranded
copper.
Exception No. 1: The derating factors given in 310.15(B)(2)(a) shall
not apply.
Exception No. 2: Conductors and multiconductor cables described in and
installed in accordance with 760.27 and 760.30 shall be permitted.
Exception No. 3: Power-limited circuits shall be permitted to be
reclassified and installed as non- power-limited circuits if the
power-limited fire alarm circuit markings required by 760.42 are
eliminated and the entire circuit is installed using the wiring
methods and materials in accordance with Part II, Non- Power-Limited
Fire Alarm Circuits.
FPN: Power-limited circuits reclassified and installed as non- power-
limited circuits are no longer power-limited circuits, regardless of
the continued connection to a power-limited source.
(B) PLFA Wiring Methods and Materials. Power-limited fire alarm
conductors and cables described in 760.71 shall be installed as
detailed in 760.52(B)(1), (2), or (3) of this section. Devices shall
be installed in accordance with 110.3(B), 300.11(A), and 300.15.
What does this alphabet soup of articles mean? It means that when
installing a power-limited fire alarm system you have 3 choices.
Furthermore, the three choices may be used in combination on the
same installation:
1) Meet the requirements found in 760.52(A), which points to 760.25
for non- power-limited wiring methods and materials.
For example using 3/4" EMT and THHN 600V copper conductor 14AWG or
larger wire, installed in accordance with appropriate articles of
Chapter 3 Wiring Methods and Materials. While you may use 16AWG and
18AWG, using 14AWG wire or larger allows more choices in jacket
insulation material found in Table 310.13. Another example is THWN
used in underground raceway to PIVs or OS & Y valve vaults.
2) Meet the requirements found within article 760.52(B) for non-
power-limited wiring methods and materials.
For example using NPLF cable, which is overall jacketed, 600V copper
multiconductor 18AWG or larger wire, installed in raceway, or
concealed (fished), or exposed on ceilings and sidewalls, supported at
18" intervals, and protected by raceway, building construction, or a
solid guard within 7' of the floor. This is an unusual type of
multiconductor cable (think Romex).
3) Meet the requirements found within article 760.25 for power-limited
wiring methods and materials.
For example using FPL cable, which is overall jacketed, 300V copper
multiconductor 26AWG or larger wire, installed in raceway, or
concealed (fished), or exposed on ceilings and sidewalls, supported at
18" intervals, and protected by raceway, building construction, or a
solid guard within 7' of the floor.
These three choices may be used independently or in combination on the
same system.
In addition, comply with certain other articles in NFPA 70-2005:
110.3(B) Read the instructions.
310.11(A) Securely fasten cables to the structure not the ceiling, not
to raceway, and not to sprinkler piping.
300.15 Use a box where required and a bushing to prevent abrasion.
I had always wondered why anyone would exercise 760.52(A) exception
No. 3: Power-limited circuits shall be permitted to be reclassified
and installed as non- power-limited circuits if the power-limited fire
alarm circuit markings required by 760.42 are eliminated and the
entire circuit is installed using the wiring methods and materials in
accordance with Part II, Non- Power-Limited Fire Alarm Circuits.
A wise old electrical inspector (hi Fred:) took the time to give me an
example of where it could be used. Assume that an old 120VAC fire
alarm system in a school is failing. Its coding motor used to ring the
bells has stopped working and is no longer manufactured. The school is
faced with the expense of replacing the entire non- power-limited
120VAC fire alarm system with a new power-limited system or, the
class 3, power limited stickers can be removed from a new control
panel, which would allow it to be installed using the exisitng non-
power-limited circuits.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
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JOB OPPORTUNITY and SEEKING EMPLOYMENT announcements are provided as
a service. ET News provides a venue for direct contact between job
seekers and employers. ET News is not a placement agency and does not
endorse either job seekers or employers.
--
Send your announcement to: mailto:jobs@etnews.org
or post your own ad: http://www.etnews.org/index.php?s=257
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FIRE ALARM CLASS SCHEDULE
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Contact me to find out how your group can sponsor an AFAA seminar.
mailto:mikebaker@afaa.org
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April 10-14, 2006 Minneapolis, MN - Sponsored by MN AFAA
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Intermediate Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET I & II)
Fire Alarm Plan Review
Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspections
Understanding IBC/IFC Fire Alarm Requirements
http://www.afaa.org/PDF/IntFA_PR_TI_IBC_Minneapolis_Apr06.pdf
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April 18, 2006 Great Falls, MT - Sponsored by MSU
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Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspections
http://www.afaa.org/PDF/MSU_Montana_Apr2006.pdf
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April 20, 2006 Missoula, MT - Sponsored by MSU
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Fire Alarm Plan Review
http://www.afaa.org/PDF/MSU_Montana_Apr2006.pdf
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May 2-4, 2006 Pleasanton, CA - Sponsored by CAFAA
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Basic Fire Alarm Seminar
Intermediate Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET I & II)
http://www.afaa.org/PDF/BasFA_IntFA_Pleasanton_May2006.pdf
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May 8-12, 2006 Denver, CO - Sponsored by RM AFAA
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Intermediate Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET I & II)
Fire Alarm System Testing & Inspections
Advanced Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET III & IV)
http://www.afaa.org/PDF/IntFA_TI_AdvFA_Denver_May2006.pdf
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May 30-31 & June 1, 2006 Laurel, MD - Sponsored by MD-DC-VA AFAA
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Fire Alarm Plan Review
Intermediate Fire Alarm Seminar (NICET I & II)
http://www.afaa.org/PDF/PR_IntFA_Maryland_May2006.pdf
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COMMENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Some information may be found in this message and etnews.org that is
reprinted with permission from one or more of the following; NFPA 70
National Electrical Code(r), NFPA 72(r) National Fire Alarm Code(r),
NFPA 101(r) Life Safety Code(r), Copyright(c) NFPA, Quincy, MA 02269
This reprinted material is not the complete and official position of
the NFPA on the referenced subject, which is represented only by the
standard in its entirety.
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